“This boost is created by using known superior male
and female genetics and the multiplication of greater
numbers of offspring than natural mating.”

He said
the programme involved a lot of work to select the best
hinds and source the best stags available in New
Zealand.

“Out of 2000 hinds, 13 were selected.
These superior hinds were then injected every 12 hours, over
a critical 3 day period, immediately before artificial
insemination, so they super ovulated.”

The results
exceeded all expectation as 127 transferable embryos were
produced. 102 embryos were transferred and the other 25 were
frozen.

“This is really exciting for us because
it’s a first and to get outstanding results in the early
stages is really rewarding. It is a real opportunity for the
industry.”

Focus Genetics used its top sires as
well as Deer Improvement Ltd genetics to ensure the best
stags in the country were being used for the transfers.

“We were able to use semen from Deer Improvement’s
superior stags which is fantastic for farmers because this
association means they are getting superior genetic gain by
getting the best genetic traits from both companies,” said
Dr Lee.

Focus Genetic’s Red Deer breeding
programme is run on Landcorp’s Stuart Farm near Te Anau
and general manager Luke Wright is very excited about the
embryo transfer programme.

“The ET programme is
new for us and is going to help us drive production for
farmers all around New Zealand because we’re using
superior venison producing stags. We aim to have these
superior stag genetics available for the industry in future
years.”

“This is a real point of difference because we are
producing animals with high growth rates. The ET programme
will help us improve carcass weights and growth rates which
will shorten the time to deliver those carcass
weights.”

‘Selection is for traits that
highlight growth, early fawning, medium hind size, and
higher yields from the major primal regions. Velvet
production is not a major focus of our objective’

As well as the embryo transfer programme
Stuart Farm was the first to CT scan deer to improve the
genetics and this is a major point of difference for Focus
Genetics.

“This gives us the ability to look
inside at their carcass/meat to bone distribution via
Computed Tomography (CT scanning) in live animals and
identify key traits without having to slaughter them.”

International embryo transfer expert, Dr. Mike Bringans
travelled from Canada to help Focus Genetics carry out the
operations at Stuart Farm.

“For the last year I
have been doing deer embryo work in China, Spain, USA,
Canada and Mexico. The results from this programme were
unbelievable. To get over 10 good quality embryos per donor
exceeded our expectations.

Dr Bringans says New
Zealand has always been the leader in deer reproductive
techniques and management.

“Embryo transfer is
the most powerful tool to advance genetics as long as the
best females have been identified correctly. With venison
traits being selected a significant genetic jump can be
achieved,” says Dr Bringans.

Mr Wright says it’s
very important to have good on farm management practices for
the programme to be successful.

“We are putting a
lot of work into these hinds making sure they are well fed
and well managed to ensure they each put a fawn on the
ground.”

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